The Great Cool Ranch Dorito in the Sky: Chapters 16–20

by Josh Galarza
This novel delves into one boy's experience of struggling with an eating disorder and self-esteem issues after going through an enormous loss.

Here are links to our lists for the book: Chapters 1–5, Chapters 6–10, Chapters 11–15, Chapters 16–20, Chapters 21–25, Chapters 26–30, Chapters 31–35, Chapters 36–40, Chapters 41–46
15 words 9 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. telltale
    disclosing unintentionally
    I resist making the telltale sniffing sound that is sure to give me away.
  2. cavalier
    showing a lack of concern or seriousness
    Reed’s voice isn’t as cavalier as I’m used to.
  3. fleeting
    lasting for a markedly brief time
    I glimpsed in Evelyn’s expression a fleeting look she often gave me from my bedroom doorway when she thought I was asleep.
  4. elicit
    call forth, as an emotion, feeling, or response
    I’m sitting in the back of AP English, two seats away from a sullen Reed, a configuration that was surprising enough to elicit several questioning glances.
  5. impressionable
    easily influenced
    Maybe the guy’s rap-battle skills—honed in his youth in Chicago’s South Side—could have seen him to wild success on the charts if he’d continued rapping about the social issues he cares about instead of embarking on a life of steering impressionable at-risk youths like us.
  6. infinitive
    the uninflected form of the verb
    As it stands, the words of Banksie’s raps fit hilariously with his nerdy button-down and Dockers look—Yo, the language got some give, go on, split infinitive—but the sharpness of them suggests we’re in the presence of a well of untapped potential.
  7. immemorial
    long past
    This is a game of mutually supposed ignorance students and teachers have been playing since time immemorial, and I’ve never met a big boss I couldn’t defeat.
  8. rove
    (of the eyes) move over something to appraise
    My eyes rove over the pyramid chart of Banksie’s favorite poets, an intricate configuration of lovingly framed headshots covering the better part of one wall.
  9. literal
    limited to the explicit meaning of a word or text
    “Most aren’t poets in the literal sense,” Banksie explained, “but that only matters to those who don’t listen when they speak.”
  10. clerical
    of or relating to religious officials
    At the top is Banksie’s favorite person ever, some friendly-looking grandpa dude in a clerical collar and bright purple shirt.
  11. genuinely
    in accordance with truth or fact or reality
    Banksie grins in the genuinely affable way he always does.
  12. affable
    diffusing warmth and friendliness
    Banksie grins in the genuinely affable way he always does.
  13. flourish
    a showy gesture
    Banksie sweeps an arm in a dramatic flourish.
  14. moniker
    a familiar name for a person
    The bigger insult here has nothing to do with the moniker.
  15. superficial
    of little substance or significance
    Like, what if I’m ugly and will never get laid, which seems like a superficial concern when I write it down, but I think about this ALL THE TIME.
Created on Thu Mar 06 04:54:05 EST 2025 (updated Fri Mar 07 04:49:28 EST 2025)

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